Defining The Ground We Play On

These definitions are placed in alphabetical order. All defined terms or words important to the application of the Rules of Golf are in italics.

Correct application to the Rules of Golf is important as they apply to these definitions. Use your rulebook to determine how to apply the rules in specific situations.

Abnormal Ground Condition is any casual water, ground under repair or hole, cast or runaway on the course made by a burrowing animal, a reptile, a bird, or fire ants.

Bunker is a hazard consisting of a prepared area of ground, often a hollow, from which turf or soil has been removed and replaced with sand or the like. Grass-covered ground bordering or within a bunker is not part of the bunker. The margin of a bunker extends vertically downwards, but not upwards. A ball is in a bunker when it lies in or any part of it touches the bunker.

Burrowing Animal is an animal that makes a hole for habitation or shelter, such as a rabbit, mole, ground hog, gopher, or salamander.

Casual Water is any temporary accumulation of water on the course that is visible before or after the player takes his stance and is not in a water hazard. Snow and natural ice, other than frost are either casual water or loose impediments, at the option of the player. Manufactured ice is an obstruction. Dew and frost are not casual water. A ball is in casual water when it lies in or any part of it touches the casual water.

Course is the entire area within which play is permitted (see Rule 33-2).

Ground Under Repair is any part of the course marked as such by the greens keeper and/or materials piled for removal or a hole made by maintenance, even if not so marked.
All ground and anything within is part of the ground under repair. The margin of ground under repair extends vertically downwards, but not upwards. Stakes and lines defining ground under repair are considered in the ground, and are obstructions. A ball is in ground under repair when it lies in or any part of it touches the ground under repair.
Overhanging limbs, bushes, etc., that originate within and may extend outside the boundary of ground under repair are not considered ground under repair.
Grass cuttings and other materials left on the course that have been abandoned and not intended for removal are not ground under repair unless so marked.

Hazard is any bunker (sand trap) or water hazard.

Lateral Water Hazard is any part of a water hazard so situated that it is determined by the course to be impossible or impracticable to drop a ball behind the water hazard as stated by Rule 26-1b.

That part of a water hazard is to be played as a lateral water hazard and is so identified by red stakes or lines. A ball is in a lateral water hazard when it lies in or any part of it touches the lateral water hazard.

Loose Impediments are natural objects such as stones, leaves, twigs, branches, and the like, dung, worms, and insects and casts or heaps made by them, provided they are not fixed or growing, are not solidly embedded and do not adhere to the ball.
Sand and loose soil are loose impediments on the putting green only. Snow and natural ice, other than frost, are either casual water or loose impediments, at the option of the player. Manufactured ice is an obstruction. Dew and frost are not loose impediments.

Nearest Point of Relief is the reference point for taking relief without penalty from interference by an immovable obstruction (Rule 24-2), an abnormal ground condition (Rule 25-1) or a wrong putting green (Rule 25-3).

It is the point on the course nearest to where the ball lies, which is not nearer the hole and at which, if the ball were positioned, no interference (as defined) would exist.

A player should determine his nearest point of relief by using the club with which he expects to play his next stroke.

Obstructions are anything artificial, including the artificial surfaces and sides of roads and paths and manufactured ice, except:

a. Objects defining out of bounds, such as walls, fences, stakes, and railings;
b. Any part of an immovable artificial object which is out of bounds;
c. Any construction declared by the course to be an integral part of the course.

An obstruction is a moveable obstruction (refreshment containers, paper, hoses, tools, etc., if it may be moved without unreasonable effort, without unduly delaying play and without causing damage. Otherwise it is an immovable obstruction (building, exposed plumbing, sprinkler heads, etc.

Out of Bounds is beyond the boundaries of the course or any part of the course so marked.
When out of bounds is defined by stakes or a fence, the out of bounds line is determined by the nearest inside point of the stakes or fence posts at ground level, excluding angled supports.
Objects defining out of bounds such as walls, fences, stakes and railings, are not obstructions and are considered fixed.

• When out of bounds is defined by a line on the ground, the line itself is out of bounds.
• The out of bounds line extends vertically upwards and downwards.
• A ball is out of bounds only when all of it lies out of bounds.
• A player may stand out of bounds to play a ball lying within bounds.

Putting Green is that area designated only for putting. A ball is on the putting green when any part of it touches the putting green.

Teeing Ground is the starting place for the hole to be played. It is a rectangular area two club-lengths in depth, with the front and sides defined by the outside limits of two tee-markers. A ball is outside the teeing ground when all of it lies outside the teeing ground. A player may stand outside the teeing ground to play a ball lying within the teeing ground.

Through the Green is the whole area of the course except:

a. The teeing ground and putting green of the hole being played;
b. All hazards on the course.

Water Hazard is any sea, lake, pond, river, ditch, surface drainage ditch, or other open water area (whether or not containing water). All ground or water within the margin of a water hazard extends vertically upwards and downwards. Stakes and lines defining the margins of water hazards are in the hazards. Such stakes are obstructions. A ball is in a water hazard when it lies in or any part of it touches the water hazard.
Yellow stakes or lines define Water hazards, other than lateral water hazards (red stakes).

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